Stitch, Fabric & Thread


Book Description

Experiment with stitch, fabric and thread to create your own unique textiles. This inventive book is a treasure trove of over 40 inspiring practical exercises, a rich and creative exploration of fabric and stitch, and a fascinating all-round read. Elizabeth Healey's approach to sewing is that it should be fun, and not like a chore or an exam we need to excel in. Her aim is to simply encourage you to pick up a needle and thread and get sewing! The exercises draw inspiration from around the world: create corded works of art inspired by Milton Glaser's iconic Bob Dylan poster; create bold embroidered African masks; layer up and cut away to create Mola applique; use bleach and fabric paint to create Aboriginal dreamtime lizards; create knotted works of art inspired by ancient Mayan counting systems; embroider varsity cross-stitch letters or try out decorative Japanese book binding. Alternatively, try a host of other techniques such as quilting, printing, dyeing, couching tumbled crockery, creating pleats and puckers and needlelace. Packed with stitch galleries and bursting with slow sewing ideas, the book also contains 'behind the stitches' features: illuminating insights into sewing movements such as Boro textiles, Gee's Bend quilting and Dorset buttons.




Wool Appliqué Folk Art


Book Description

14 folk-art projects that celebrate American heritage with wool appliqué. Savor the richness and beauty of wool appliqué—its texture, depth, color, and design. Well-known, award-winning folk artist Rebekah L. Smith will ignite your passion for Americana home decor with her simple and elegant designs. Hand stitch 14 folk-art projects, each with full-size patterns and step-by-step instructions. Appliqué pillows, bed toppers, and table runners from woven wools, felted wools, and wool felt—upcycling at its finest! Staying true to early decorative arts, the antique color palette and nature-inspired designs translate seamlessly to many modern living spaces. • 14 wool felt appliqué projects include bed covers, wall hangings, and table runners • A guide for beginners, seasoned stitchers, traditional quilters, embroiderers, textile artisans, and general crafters • Instructions on finding and repurposing wool Praise for Wool Appliqué Folk Art “I particularly liked the 14 updated traditional projects in Rebekah's book, which included bed covers, wall hangings and table runners. Her designs are very appealing. There is something in this book for everyone, from beginner to seasoned stitcher.” —The Canadian Quilter




Knit Happy with Self-Striping Yarn


Book Description

Add Joyful Color to Your Knits the Easy Way! Make the most of your favorite self-striping yarn with 20 bright and brilliant patterns from Stephanie Lotven, of Tellybean Knits. Every skein of self-striping yarn contains a whole palette of exciting colors, so you can create eye-catching rainbow details without needing to keep track of several yarns or weave in all those ends when your project is complete. Stephanie’s spectacular designs go way beyond traditional striped socks, covering new and exciting ways to showcase these beautiful yarns in sweaters, hats, cowls and more. Whether you’re building your knitting skills or looking for fresh inspiration, selfstriping yarn is truly your secret weapon for knitting garments that shine. The Rainbow Adventure Fingerless Mitts are a quick, satisfying project with big impact and the Indicator Shawl has a chic, geometric design that’s a blast to knit. Statement sweaters like the Sock Arms Cardigan knit up unexpectedly quickly with so many exciting colors to hold your interest. This collection includes a wide range of sizes for adults, as well as adorable variations for kids. Designed to surprise and delight, these unique patterns will brighten up your hand-knit wardrobe and make cheerful gifts for family and friends.




Modern Crewel Embroidery


Book Description

Stitch a modern crewelwork sampler Rediscover crewel embroidery with colorful wool and cheerful designs sure to brighten any home. Jo Avery invites stitchers of all levels to take on this traditional heritage art and make projects that pop! Create texture and dimension using wool thread and felt appliqué. Stitch up flowers, honeycombs, fish, and so much more. Embroiderers, cross-stitchers, and curious crafters looking to expand their skill set will enjoy the range of hand stitches and instructional illustrations accompanying each design. Relax and unwind with this hands-on art form! 15 fresh designs breathe new life into traditional crewelwork embroidery Beginner friendly! Basic and more advanced embroidery stitches with complete illustrations Create pincushions, pillows, wallhangings, hoops, and more




How to Knit


Book Description

Leading designer Debbie Bliss takes you, lesson by lesson, through the techniques and stitches of knitting, from casting on the first stitch to creating an intricate Fair Isle cardigan. Presented as nine workshops, each lesson builds on the skills already learned to ensure steady, confident progress. As well as teaching new skills, each workshop finishes with projects specially designed to put them into practise. The first lesson looks at materials and equipment, then takes you through most of the basic stitches and techniques. Subsequent lessons cover simple stitch patterns, Aran knitting, entrelac, and finishing and design techniques. Each lesson also presents a collection of stitches that builds into a library, and projects range from clothing for the family to cushions and a throw for the home. Packed with hundreds of colour photos and illustrations, this is an ideal how-to for beginners and a valuable reference for more experienced knitters.




Crafty Little Things to Sew


Book Description

20 quick & easy projects to sew from scraps or fat quarters.




Wise Craft Quilts


Book Description

Infuse your quilts with love--how to add your personal story and more meaning to your handmade quilts. In Wise Craft Quilts, celebrated quilt designer and crafter Blair Stocker shares ways to use cherished fabrics to make quilts with more meaning. Each of the twenty-one quilts featured here gathers a special collection of fabric, outlines a new technique, and spins a story. By using special fabrics as the starting point for each project—from a wedding dress to baby’s first clothes, worn denim, Tyvek race numbers, and more—the finished quilt is made even more special. Create quilts that have a story to tell and you’ll find a whole new level of appreciation for what they represent in your life and the lives of the ones you love.




Edward's Menagerie


Book Description

Create a suave high-flying rhino, a lovesick elephant who knows her way around a kitchen, and a seriously chivalrous tiger . . . With just two weeks to go before her baby Edward’s due date, yarn enthusiast Kerry Lord picked up a crochet hook for the first time, and a new obsession began. Over the next twelve months, the collection of crochet animals expanded week by week until Edward’s Menagerie was complete—with forty unique patterns. These cute animals with larger-than-life personalities are made using simple crochet techniques, and the step-by-step instructions enable a complete beginner to get hooking straight away. Each animal also has a universal pattern, allowing crocheters to change their hooks and yarns to create four different sizes, making for 160 different possibilities. Be warned—these unlikely characters, made using a super-soft yarn in a sumptuous natural color palette, will become your new best friends as you hook your way through the whole menagerie!




Sew Very Easy Quilt Favorites


Book Description

Learn quilting basics from a YouTube sensation and practice your skills with 12 fun projects suitable for all skill levels. Her instructional videos have inspired thousands to start sewing. Now for the first time, sew-lebrity Laura Coia shares written patterns for the most loved video tutorials on her “Sew Very Easy” YouTube channel! Learn the basics of quilt making, from cutting and pressing to borders and finishing. Then practice your skills with a dozen beautiful projects—quilts you’ll come back to time and time again—all suitable for beginners and beyond.




Hand Sewing


Book Description

Embrace and enjoy sewing by hand Make sewing by hand your next creative accomplishment! Embrace the chance to unwind and enjoy the process of creating hand made quilt blocks with Becky Goldsmith’s step-by-step instructions. Start at the beginning and learn how to appliqué, quilt, and paper piece by hand, and appreciate the unique dedication of a hand-sewn project, guaranteeing your patchwork project to be one of your most special and personal quilts to date. Gain insight into all the best threads, needles, thimbles, marking tools, seam allowances, knots, and more to get you started. Fall in love with these time-honored techniques and make something that will last a lifetime! Perfectly portable! Working by hand means you can take this project wherever you go Comprehensive introductory chapters on choosing fabric, cutting, supplies, and more to get you started Includes step-by-step instructions on how to create beautiful blocks using hand appliqué with cotton and wool, hand piecing and quilting, and English paper piecing